Plaster cast cutter



June 27, 1950 M. MERKUR PLASTER CAST CUTTER Filed Jan. 50, 1947 -%1-Zin jllrlhzr Patented June 27, 1950 PLASTER CAST CUTTER Martin Merkur, New York, N. Y., assignor of onethird to Arnold Neustadter, New York, N. Y.

Application January 30, 1947, Serial No. 725,315

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a cutter for cutting and removing plaster casts.

In the removing of a plaster cast, it is desirable that the cast be removed with the least inconvenience or injury to the patient and that any pressure which may be necessary during the cutting of the cast be reduced to a minimum, if not entirely eliminated. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a cast cutting tool which will not injure the patient and will cut the cast at the desired location.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cast cutting tool which will permit cutting of selected portions of the cast where such selected portions must be removed for any particular reason.

A further object of this invention is to provide a plaster cast cutter which will cut the cast in a neat and thorough manner without breaking or cracking the cast at undesired points.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a plaster cast cutter constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, with parts in the position indicated in dotted lines,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral designates generally an elongated handle which is bifurcated at its forward end as indicated at l I and I2. The handle I0 has fixed to the forward end thereof a stationary jaw l3, having a shank l4 engaging between the bifurcations H and I2, and secured therebetween by fastening means IS.

The jaw I3 is formed with a convex outer side l5 and with a substantially straight inner side I! having a plurality of teeth I8 projecting therefrom. The jaw I3 is of tapered configuration in transverse section, as shown in Figure 3.

A movable jaw generally designated as I9 is pivotally mounted as at 20, on the shank I4 and disposed in a position for movement toward or away from the stationary jaw IS. The movable jaw [9 includes a pair of spaced blades 2| which are adapted to engage on the opposite sides of the tapered portion of the jaw I3, as shown in Figure 3. The movable jaw l9 includes a pair of arms 2-2, engaging on the opposite sides of the shank l4, through which the pivot member 20 loosely engages. The movable jaw 19 also includes a substantially right angularly and rearwardly extending arm 23 which is pivotally connected by means of a pivot member 24 to the forward end of a second rockable handle or lever 25.

The handle or lever 25 is formed of obtusely related forward and rear parts 26 and 2'1. The movable handle or lever 25 is rockably connected to the stationary handle H] by means of a link 28 pivotally secured as at 29, within an elongated slot 30 formed in the handle [0. The opposite end of the link 28 is pivotally secured on a pivot 3| and is disposed in a slot or channel 32 formed in the inner side of the handle or lever 25. The movable handle or lever 25 is constantly urged to jaw opening position by means of a spring 33 mounted on a pin 34 within the channel 32 and having one end portion thereof projecting into the channel 30 for engagement with a stationary pin 35 extending across the sides of the channel or slot 30.

In the use and operation of this tool, the stationary jaw I3 is adapted to be inserted underneath the cast, the jaw l3 being of tapered configuration so that this jaw may be readily inserted beneath at least a small portion of the cast. After the jaw l3 has been inserted beneath the cast for a short distance, the handle or lever :25 may be rocked inwardly at its rear end, thereby swinging the movable jaw I9 forwardly so that the pair of cutting blades 2| carried by this jaw will cut through the cast which is also pierced between the blades 2| by the points or puncturing members l8. These points or puncturing members 18 also provide a means whereby the inner side of the cast is initially weakened along the line of the points l8 at the time initial pressure is applied to the jaw I9.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A cutting tool comprising an elongated handle, a stationary jaw carried by one end of and disposed at right angles to said handle, said jaw inincluding a cutting edge having a plurality of rearwardly directed article puncturing points, a movable jaw including a pair of spaced blades adapted to straddle said cutting edge, means rockably mounting said movable jaw on said slots.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following. references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 2,357,197 10 2368,9063 MARTIN MERKUR. 7

Name Date Miller Aug. 11, 1896 Eerhard et a1 Nov. 5, 1940 I-Iood 'L' V Aug. 29, 1944 Feb. 6, 1945 Hood May 8, 1945 

